The Hospital Physiotherapists Association

The Hospital Amendment Bill came into force on 23-10-81 - From this the Minister required nominees to represent physiotherapists in negotiations.  Heather Gordon was appointed,  with a physiotherapist in the Education Service

The hospital physiotherapists felt their needs required further representation and in 1982 formed the Hospital Physiotherapists Association.  At the 1982 annual general meeting the constitution for Hospital Physiotherapists was approved. (HPA).  It was decided the National President’s Newsletter should go to all members as well as the customary one from Executive.[1]

A very controversial topic in 1981 and 1982 was the question of an allowance for physiotherapists supervising polytechnic students in hospitals.  Those physiotherapists doing the supervising were not being paid any more for the responsibility,  while tutors employed by the polytechnic received higher salaries.  By February 1982 it had been decided to withdraw from the tutoring and supervision of 3rd year Polytechnic students in the Physiotherapy Departments of Public Hospitals.  This created a huge problem for staff at the schools with students ready to start the 1982 academic year and nowhere to do their clinical experience.  At this point the Director General of Health said his Department would withdraw from negotiations while the ban (or threat of one) on clinical supervision of students remained.  Gay Wood (President) met the Director General of Health (Dr.Hiddlestone) the day before the annual general meeting when he agreed to a meeting on the subject.  Student supporters and the students themselves brought great pressure at the 1982 annual general meeting where Council decided to do all it could to resolve the issue. 

Gay Wood did not have the agreement of the Salaries committee, but she did have the agreement of the Council and the meeting.  Gay resigned because of a continuing conflicting interest,  a certainty that such action was not in the profession’s best interest and a certainty that because of precedent we didn’t have a hope of succeeding anyway.[2]  The Committee and Mr. Potiki drafted a submission at a cost of $1500

Tutor physiotherapists were prepared to strike over the matter,  though when Michael Lamont met the Minister of Health in July 1982,  he was told a strike would not be tolerated.[3]  On the advice of the Salaries and Conditions of Employment Committee Executive agreed to the training allowance for physiotherapists supervising students in clinical being taken to tribunal in August 1982.  This controversy,  so divisive for the profession,  made it clear how little impact the small number of physiotherapists could have in any negotiation,  and led to the suggestion to join the PSA.  This possibility that the PSA could represent physiotherapists caused great debate in August 1982. 

Some executive were concerned that Society members might see dual membership as unnecessary and the Society lose support.  Executive voted for the Society to set up machinery to open discussion with the Executive of PSA in August 1982 on the possible transfer to the PSA of the right to negotiate salaries and conditions of employment for physiotherapists employed under the provisions of the State Services conditions of employment 1977.[4]  Colin Feslier of the PSA addressed the 1983 annual meeting following which a ballot was held,  the result showing that the majority of physiotherapists supported a change to PSA.  Consequently a ballot showed support for a change to the PSA,  and the PSA became the negotiating body for physiotherapists,  with the Salaries & Conditions Committee being disbanded.[5]  As a result of this ballot the Society took an irrevocable step on behalf of the hospital therapists in resigning from the Society of Hospital Employee Organisations and standing in it’s own right as an industrial negotiator for Hospital staff.  Subsequently SHEO dissolved[6]  The move to the PSA did not take into account the precedent that would have been created by giving extra pay to supervising physiotherapists - thus giving the opportunity for nurses and others to claim the same.  Precedent was a major feature of negotiations in those days and continued to hamper physiotherapists salaries and conditions despite the PSA membership where individual moves could be and were blocked by other groups with similar jobs and interests.  From 1983 the PSA has been the main negotiating body for hospital physiotherapists.  When asked in April 1989 hospital physiotherapists reaffirmed that they wanted the PSA to negotiate for them.  It is only because of the concern of the Society for Public Sector physiotherapists that the PSA is involved. 

The Hospital Physiotherapists Association produced their first newsletter in October 1983  - trying to get representatives from each branch.  The HPA met to discuss various matters affecting the public sector such as course/study leave for bursars,  payment of NZSP subscriptions on instalments,  and hospital levy excess funds and Queen Elizabeth hydrotherapy assistants.[7]  It was felt that once organised the professional and industrial needs of hospital physiotherapists would be well met by the Society and the PSA.[8].

The Charge Physiotherapists Association was formed in 1975 and produced a document setting out “Rules of conduct and training for Hospital Physiotherapy Aides” in 1981.  The Association made suggestions about quality assurance in 1983;  although they suggested a working party on the subject it did not eventuate.  A seminar was held after the 1985 AGM and the group worked on “Standards for a Hospital” in 1986.  Many Charge Physiotherapists organised post basic courses.  The Charge Physiotherapists and the Hospital Physiotherapists amalgamated in October 1986 to become the Hospital Physiotherapists Association.  Dorothy Gordon had this to say on the challenge to hospital physiotherapists  “Future uncertainty” describes the health system - Area Health Boards are coming.[9]

This Hospital Physiotherapists Association struggled for support.  Membership dropped markedly after the controversial Special General Meeting in August 1986 and the replacement of Ros Ham as President.  Many hospital physiotherapists felt the Society was dominated by the private practitioners,  and as the PSA were handling their salary negotiations there was no reason to belong to the Society.  In 1987 two newsletters were sent out,  and the HPA advised the NZSP on the Health Benefits Review Report,  the Interdepartmental Health/Treasury Taskforce (put together by Vivienne Pearce),  The Social Policy Review,  and the pros and cons of working in a Hospital.[10]

The Charge physiotherapists and the Senior Management Group were formed with backing from the Department of health and were outside the Society.  Many Charge physiotherapists were not Society members.   Continuing Education was sponsored by the Charge Physiotherapists and Senior Management Groups, and to hand this over to the HPA was considered to be a backward step.  In 1987 $200 was given to the Senior physiotherapists Managers Group towards the cost of a national workshop.  President Eileen Lamb questioned her role as President of the HPA in 1987.

The aims of the HPA were to encourage interest in physiotherapy affairs and the NZSP amongst hospital physiotherapists,  to encourage clinical excellence and provide opportunities for continuing education,  also to provide a two way channel of communication between the Society and members.  There were only 19 members each of whom paid $25 for little return”.  Eileen asked for the topic to be discussed at the 1988 annual general meeting where a very enthusiastic meeting lasted nearly one & half hours.  The meeting wished to make the voice of hospital physiotherapists heard and to persuade public sector physiotherapists that there was value in belonging to the Society.

As a result Peter Browne & Lois Clarkson designed a poster which was sent to medium and large hospitals throughout the country.  There was a feeling that hospital physiotherapists were realising that there was value in belonging to the Society,  and that their political voice should be heard.  Only one newsletter was sent out,  but the voice of hospital physiotherapists was heard in Society submissions.[11]  The HPA had input into briefing papers the NZSP submitted to the new Ministers of Health and Education and made statements which were included in the submission on the Health Commissioners Bill.  Once again in April 1989 hospital physiotherapists were asked whether they  wanted the  PSA to negotiate for them or NZSP.[12]  They replied in the affirmative.

Uncertainty continued in New Zealand hospitals in 1989.  When Helen Rance was elected President of the HPA she found there were few demands on the Committee which made them wonder whether there was a reason for their being.  With administration changes in 1990 colleagues needed support,  but Executive queried whether the HPA was the most appropriate way to give it. [13]  The Senior Physiotherapy Managers Group supported the principle of a central resource group to assist physiotherapists working in isolated areas in December 1989. [14]  Prior to the 1990 annual general meeting hospital members were invited by questionnaire to comment on the future role of the group.  Replies endorsed the feeling that it was essential to maintain a group that would communicate between and speak for physiotherapists employed by Area Health Boards.  Despite this only 4 people attended that annual general meeting,  with a further four at a supplementary meeting held the next day.[15]  From 1990 Executive had a member to liaise with the hospital sector.  This was Eileen Lamb in 1990.  Dwindling support for the HPA concerned the NZSP Executive in 1991.  In an endeavour to give hospital physiotherapists a voice Executive established the position of NZSP Co-ordinator of the Health Board Employees at the 1991 AGM.  Sue Webster was appointed in June 1991,  by September 1991 she was making submissions on the current status and future directions of the group, and in November submitted material on accredited assessors.[16]  Sue addressed the Senior Managers Group in October 1991 and explained her role to them and passed on the many and varied ideas from around the country.  27 liaison officers were established in hospitals from Northland to Invercargill,  giving direct and effective communication links. 

1991 was a difficult year with proposed changes creating confusion and concern.  Management structure changed,  with the development of some staff to service managers.  Some individuals were reluctant to share information, in case it could be considered “commercially sensitive”.   Although keen to seek help from their professional body,  groups were unsure how far co-operation should go.[17]  With the prospect of contracting for services physiotherapists were more aware of the need to measure outcomes and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.[18]  As co-ordinator Sue disseminated information to members and obtained feedback in return.  There was a considerable variation between Area Health Boards making effective communication most important.

The Employment Contracts Bill in 1991 created concern about salary negotiations and the lack of professional information available to individuals and PSA delegates.  Grading systems for therapists in the public sector had no nationally standardised criteria and this created problems for staff and managers alike.  Outpatient Departments found the threat of user part charges a threat.  Neil Beney informed Executive in August 1992 that at a recent meeting of the Senior Manager Group it was agreed that the group would co-operate with the Society in providing information for future submissions from the Society.  A statement about accountability was made.[19]

Following Sue Webster’s resignation Robin McGlashen was appointed as temporary co-ordinator in September 1992[20]  RHA’s and Crown Health Enterprises were established in 1992.  Robin continued writing monthly newsletters,  giving information and obtaining feedback. 

She corresponded with Hospital Liaison Officers and when possible visited various departments throughout the country.  Attendance at the Senior Physiotherapy Manager’s Conference in August 1991 gave her insight about how the Health Reforms were impacting on Physiotherapy Departments and Managers.  The Senior Physiotherapy Manager’s Group appointed Liz Pyle as Chairman and Rochelle Borstein as secretary in November 1992,  the group agreeing to establish formal links with the NZSP.[21]  Robin produced a Primary Care Providers Guide to contracting - “Making it Work” in November 1992[22] 

Neil Beney suggested a working party be set up in December 1992 to look at the different structure being considered with a view to setting up a format of a career structure tied in to open ended/continuing Education.[23] 

Robin McGlashen’s appointment was made permanent in April 1993 when Sue Webster did not return from maternity leave.  Robin assisted the co-ordination of a Working Party of hospital physiotherapists throughout 1993,  the aim of which was to come up with a national set of criteria for “Senior/Clinical Specialist” positions for hospital employed physiotherapists.

Change continued throughout 1993.  Many physiotherapy “departments” were devolved and non-physiotherapy managers appointed.  Physiotherapists fought to retain current wages and conditions,  and in some areas had reduced penal and overtime rates. (No national award now,  salaries were negotiated on a regional basis.)  Strikes occurred in several CHEs involving physiotherapists over breakdowns in wage negotiations.  There was a shortage of physiotherapists during the year and many overseas physiotherapists were recruited. 

[1] E/M 23-7-82

[2] Gay Wood 1999

[3] N/L July 1982

[4] N/L August 1982

[5] E/M 28-5-83

[6] E/M - 14-3-81

[7] E/M 23-9-85

[8] E/M 17-9-83

[9] N/L July 1987

[10] A/R 1987 page 15

[11] A/R 1988 page 11

[12] 1989

N/L April 1989

[13] A/R 1989 page 10

[14] E/M 9-12-89 -

[15] A/R 1990  page 10

[16] N/L November & December 1991

[17] Sue Webster 1999

[18] A/R 1991

[19] E/M 25-8-92 -

[20] E/M 20-9-92 -

[21] E/M 1-11-92

[22] N/L November 1992

[23] E/M 17-12-92